Methods for nicotine replacement dosage determination

Abstract

A method for predicting nicotine replacement dosage to achieve a target nicotine serum concentration relies on measuring blood nicotine concentration prior to smoking cessation. At least two values corresponding to other patient characteristics, such as body mass, cumulative smoking, psychological dependence, age, and menopausal status, are also determined and used to predict expected blood nicotine concentrations based on nicotine replacement dosages. Such methods are useful in achieving target blood nicotine concentrations for smoking cessation and therapy.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to methods for smoking cessation assistance, and more particularly to methods for determining and predicting dosages utilized in nicotine replacement therapy employed in conjunction with smoking cessation techniques.Cigarette smoking is a serious health concern in the United States and throughout the world, being a significant causative factor in several types of cancer, heart disease, and other disabilities. While the risk of these diseases can be greatly reduced by simply stopping smoking, tobacco dependency makes stopping very difficult for many patients. Thus, there is a continuing need to provide aids for use in smoking cessation therapy.Of particular interest to the present invention, a number of products have been commercially developed for providing nicotine replacement while a patient is undergoing smoking cessation and may suffer the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Such nicotine replacement can be achieved b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It is important to reach the target blood nicotine level, delivered by the therapeutic medication, as rapidly as possible after smoking cessation, referred to as the patient's Target Quit Date. If there is delay, and the blood nicotine level is too low, then risk of relapse back to smoking can increase 10-fold in the first day or two after Target Quit Date. Conversely, if the physician initiates treatment with too high a therapeutic nicotine medication dose, then the patient could experience untoward side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, causing the patient to stop medication and likely relapse back to smoking. The present invention allows the physician to start the patient with the proper dose of nicotine replacement medication which individually optimizes that patient's chance of successfully stopping smoking.

Problems solved by technology

(1989) publication reported that nicotine transdermal replacement dosages adapted to previous daily cigarette consumption was no more effective than a standard dosage for achieving successful smoking cessation therapy.

Surprisingly, however, it is also observed herein that nicotine replacement levels of blood cannot be adequately predicted based upon the level of administered dosage alone.

Conversely, if the physician initiates treatment with too high a therapeutic nicotine medication dose, then the patient could experience untoward side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, causing the patient to stop medication and likely relapse back to smoking.

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